Lorde’s ‘Melodrama’ album review

Grammy-winning New Zealander Lorde created Royals and the rest of her debut album in her teen years. Now, at 20, she’s back with a sophomore release just as exceptional, and with a growing sound.

Melodrama finds Lorde partnering with Jack Antonoff, the fun. guitarist and songwriter-producer who worked on Taylor Swift’s 1989. He helps Lorde expand her sound on the new album, keeping what was best about 2013’s moody Pure Heroine, with a few extra layers.

Tracks like Liability and Writer In the Dark are beautiful tunes, highlighted by the piano, that showcase Lorde’s overall growth — sonically, vocally and lyrically. Sober and Supercut are beat-laden winners; Hard Feelings/Loveless is revealing; and Sober II (Melodrama) is eerie and epic.

This 11-track set is as grand as Lorde’s name.